System and method for controlling operation of a robot

A method for a system comprising:

• a robot;
• a radar transmitter configured to output a radar signal;
• a harmonic receiver configured to receive a harmonic signal including a Doppler effect;
• a harmonic reflector configured to be coupled to an object, wherein the harmonic reflector is configured to reflect the harmonic signal including the Doppler effect in response to the radar signal contacting the harmonic reflector;
• and
• a control unit in communication with the robot, the radar transmitter, and the harmonic receiver,
• wherein the method comprises:
• tracking, by the control unit, the Doppler effect of the harmonic signal reflected by the harmonic reflector;
• determining, from the Doppler effect of the harmonic signal by the control unit, a position, a speed, and a heading of the harmonic reflector;
• and
• regulating, by the control unit, operation of the robot based on the position, the speed, and the heading of the harmonic reflector, wherein said regulating comprises:
• determining, based on the position, the speed, and the heading of the harmonic reflector, that the object is stationary and outside of an operative range of the robot;
• providing normal, unrestricted operation of the robot only in response to determining that the object is stationary and outside of the operative range of the robot;
• determining, based on the position, the speed, and the heading of the harmonic reflector, that the object is within the operative range of the robot and moving toward the robot;
• deactivating the robot only in response to determining that the object is within the operative range of the robot and moving toward the robot, wherein said deactivating prevents any operation of the robot;
• determining, based on the position, the speed, and the heading of the harmonic reflector, that the object is within the operative range of the robot and not moving toward the robot or moving away from the robot;
• restricting movement of one or more portions of the robot to a reduced range within the operative range only in response to determining that the object is within the operative range of the robot and not moving toward the robot or moving away from the robot, wherein said restricting allows for operation beyond said deactivating, but less than normal, unrestricted operation of the robot;
• and
• determining, based on the position, the speed, and the heading of the harmonic reflector, that the object has moved from a location within the operative range to a location outside of the operative range;
• and
• transitioning the robot back to the normal, unrestricted operation in response to determining that the object has moved from the location within the operative range to the location outside of the operative range.

A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium comprising executable instructions that, in response to execution, cause one or more control units comprising a processor, to perform operations comprising:

• tracking a Doppler effect of a harmonic signal reflected by a harmonic reflector in response to being contacted by a radar signal;
• determining from the Doppler effect of the harmonic signal a position, a speed, and a heading of the harmonic reflector;
• and
• regulating operation of a robot based on the position, the speed, and the heading of the harmonic reflector, wherein said regulating comprises:
• determining, based on the position, the speed, and the heading of the harmonic reflector, that the object is stationary and outside of an operative range of the robot;
• providing normal, unrestricted operation of the robot only in response to determining that the object is stationary and outside of the operative range of the robot;
• determining, based on the position, the speed, and the heading of the harmonic reflector, that the object is within the operative range of the robot and moving toward the robot;
• deactivating the robot only in response to determining that the object is within the operative range of the robot and moving toward the robot;
• determining, based on the position, the speed, and the heading of the harmonic reflector, that the object is within the operative range of the robot and not moving toward the robot or moving away from the robot;
• restricting movement of one or more portions of the robot to a reduced range within the operative range in response to determining that the object is within the operative range of the robot and not moving toward the robot or moving away from the robot wherein said restricting allows for operation beyond said deactivating, but less than normal, unrestricted operation of the robot;
• determining, based on the position, the speed, and the heading of the harmonic reflector, that the object has moved from a location within the operative range to a location outside of the operative range;
• and
• transitioning the robot back to the normal, unrestricted operation in response to determining that the object has moved from the location within the operative range to the location outside of the operative range.